Of course this happened to honor our furry stuffed animal friends that got us through many a rough or tough or sad situation growing up…our teddy bears (or their equivalent).

Through scary nights or hospital stays or life tragedies we had trouble understanding, our teddies always lent an ear and were there to hug no matter what.

And during this time of year where we reflect on all we have to be thankful for, and on this day, National Hg a Bear Day, I am thankful for bears.

The kind l cuddled when l was a child, so soft and furry and cuddly.

The bears in nature that for some reason I’ve always loved, I don’t know why. How cute they can be, and how scary. To see one in nature was my dream, but I never saw one at Yellowstone. Only in zoos. But can you imagine how thrilled I was, as a kid, when a series came on TV called Gentle Ben? A show about a bear! Named Ben!

And I’m thankful for the gay bear community who helped to to learn to love myself and my body. And if bear groups sometimes tend to “seem” a little click-ish? I think it’s because bears have been left out so much in their lives, that when they find their bearish brethren, they tend to become little tribes, defending each other from that outside world. They’ll let you in, close in, when they know you’re a brother bear.

So l say, on this National Hug a Bear Day, don’t forget us gay bears!

We can identify with so much you’ve been through, if for no other reason than our size often sets us on the side, the outside, the fringe. We don’t fit society’s view of what’s beautiful or sexy. That great outfit that looks hot on a slim athletic guy makes us look like ten pounds of potatoes in an eight pound bag. And if we dare wear it, there are always stares and snickers. Or we became too ashamed to try.

We become the trusted sidekick or gay best friend. But our hot male gay friend wants a guy that society considers hot. Or often enough. And that pesky straight male friend (and pretty much every gay man I knew fell for his best friend) wants a girl. *sigh* But that’s another story.

And to our female friends? We’re the best friend she’s ever had until she wants a night with just the girls. And while we aren’t like any guy she’s ever known…we’re not a girl.

Yet we’re almost always there to lend an ear or help someone through a through a rough night.

PS: Special thanks to Beth Belsito for letting me know what today is!
PPS: Read below for a wonderful little article all about National Bear Day!

DAYS OF THE YEAR: HUG A BEAR DAY

Hug a Bear day isn’t about the big fuzzy beasts that roam the forests munching on nuts and berries, and once a year or so busting out the fishing skills to scoop up salmon from the teeming rivers. Hugging one of those could in fact lead to a very bad day. They are instead about our favorite fuzzy knights of Yore.

They’re big and fuzzy and warm, they watch over us at night and keep the monsters in the closet and under the bed at bay. They’re often the first gift we’re ever given, and many of us carry them forward into our adult lives as ‘memoirs’ of our past. But we all know the real reason we still have them is our lives seem a little better, and a little saner, with our childhood protectors still working for us.

History of Hug a Bear Day

The history of stuffed animals goes back a long ways, some archaeological evidence suggests as far as Ancient Egypt. What is known for certain is that plush toys as we know them first started hitting the scene in the 1830’s, but the most iconic of all of them, the Teddy Bear, came about in 1902. Story goes that American President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was hunting, and refused to shoot a baby bear they came across.

Since that day the Teddy Bear has stood as the childhood toy that is given to almost every child. The term “Teddy” was even derived from the name of this self-same president. There are now millions of Teddy Bears produced every year, in a rainbow of styles and colors. No matter what your imagination may produce, there is sure to be a Teddy Bear that meets your idea of the perfect fuzzy protector.

How to Celebrate Hug a Bear Day

Hug your bear! If you don’t have a bear, get a bear and hug it! If absolutely necessary, bearnap a friends bear and cuddle it! If you’re in the market for a brand new bear, an internet search will bring you a world of options. But the best possible option is to head out to a Build-A-Bear workshop and create your very own fuzzy defender. They have clothes and accessories that will let you bring out the very best friend your imagination can create.

You can also get together with your friends and bring out all your favorite old Teddy Bears. Admit what your favorite plush animal is and share it with those who still love theirs. Whatever you do, use Hug A Bear Day to remember your youth and the friends who accompanied you.

A few years ago did a blog called “365 Days of Silver,” where I managed, every single day for a year, to post something that I was grateful for. And here it is November, a beginning of a season where we traditionally do just think of all the things we are grateful for.

NUMBER ONE

I am thankful, so thankful, for a God that *I* can believe in. Not a mean Old Man Up There in the Sky who has set me up for failure and says that I am born into sin because of two people who are supposed to have done something terrible in a Garden thousands of years ago. A god that sets up a minefield and expects me to navigate through it to prove…well I’m not sure what. No. I believe in a God Who Created me just as I am, that way I am supposed to be, with everything that comes up with it (which I of course I will list in the days to come). A God Who is Agape—pure and unconditional love. Not that “unconditional love” I learned about growing up Baptist that sure had a heck of a lot of conditions. That unconditional love *except* for….that gay business or that poly thing or all those other etc etc etc reasons. Unconditional Love. I think that is Number One!

NUMBER TWO

It all started with this picture of me and Noah Willoughby and the following words, “It’s That Magikal Pumpkin Time of the Year!

Pumpkin lattes and splitting a pumpkin scone. We got the second to last one and it’s not even noon! And for all you sillys that don’t like pumpkin, don’t complain about it. Just don’t eat/drink them! More for me! Give me pumpkin or give me death! WHO’S WITH ME IN LIVING ALL THINGS PUMPKIN??”

I posted that picture with these…

Over 50 people “liked” that post and it turned out quite a few people joined us in the “liking” of “all things” pumpkin!

That gave me and Noah the idea of Dueling Pumpkins. We would have a duel, each day taking turns posting pumpkin/pumpkin spice products real (and maybe not-so-real?). There will really be no winner. Our goal was to entertain you. And while Noah has the most excellent Photoshopping skills, I have some loyal readers who started sending me pictures on the down-low! LOL! So here we go, those pictures starting on October 1st and going on to Halloween.

So tell me! Which of these are real. Which are not so real? Is there a winner? Let me know!
(I’ll update this each day for those who don’t follow on Facebook!)

First, I want to explain why the word “losing” is in quotes. I believe that what we think about, we bring about. I believe in the POWER of words. Of course, I do! I’m a writer and I know a simple choice of words changes lives. So why do I not like the idea of “losing” weight?

It’s because when we lose something, what do we want to do? FIND it of course! And I sure as heck don’t want to find the 75+ pounds Weight Watchers has helped me get rid of.

Halloween is perhaps my favorite holiday and for years R and I had HUGE parties (one of them had over 225 people show up!). We had to give those up, but I still remember them fondly. Costumes were a problem though. Having a beard and wanting to do costumes wasn’t easy. All the cool costumes didn’t work with a beard and I wasn’t about to shave mine. But hey! Things have changed. Now there are all kinds of things we bearded men can do. Check this post to find out just a few of them. Too bad I won’t be dressing up. But I just might play with my beard, like I did last year.

Is there a better time (or excuse?) for a beard? Wait! Winter! No…. Wait. Is there ever the need for an excuse for a beard? But forget that, let’s just enjoy. Because there is no reason for an excuse for that either! So take a look and let me know what you think…… Continue reading →